Grille construction



Feb. 23, 1937. v G. E. WHITLOCK GRILLE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 27, 1955 FIG.5

INVENTOR GEORGE E- WHITLOCK ATTORNEYS FIGA.

Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED sra'rs TENT The City Auto Stamping Company,

Toledo,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 27, 1935, Serial No. 23,745 3 Claims. (01. 293-54) The invention relates to grilles such as are used in connection with automobile radiators, and it is the object of the invention to obtain a simplified and improved construction. To this end the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the radiator shell showing the grille attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View viewed from the inside of the shell showing the attachment for the grille;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View illustrating the con nection between the vertical grille bars and the intermediate transversely extending bracing bars;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through one of the grille bars with the split hollow bead in engagement therewith;

Fig. 5 is an elevation partly in section of the construction shown in Fig. 3.

Grilles of the type above referred to are used solely for ornament and are not subjected to mechanical stresses other than those incident to the passage of air therethrough and the vibration of the frame. Consequently it has been customary to form such grilles from comparatively light gauge sheet metal but so fashioned as to give the appearance of a heavier and more rigid structure. In one type of construction which has heretofore been used, the grille bars are of U-shape cross section with the bend in the U arranged at the front so as to give the appearance of a heavy bar. These U-shaped bars are clamped at top and bottom to the radiator shell and are also supported at one or more intermediate points by cross bars slotted to embrace the same. Inasmuch, however, as the grille bars are formed of light gauge metal and are hollow, the clamping engagement therewith is ,not very secure. I have therefore devised a construction in which I have substituted solid bars for these hollow U-shaped bars which facilitates the attachment of the same to the radiator shell and intermediate cross bars. However, to save weight and expense, these solid bars are comparatively thin, While the appearance of heavy bars is imparted thereto by a rounded hollow bead secured to the front of each bar. The construction is also one in which the beads are readily attached to the bars by a snap engagement, after the latter have been mounted in and. secured to a radiator shell.

In detail, A is the radiator shell having attached to the portions above and below the grille opening transversely extending angle bars B, the rearwardly extending flanges B of which are slotted at C to receive the solid grille bars D. These bars D are then secured in engagement with the flanges B by adjacent bars E having forwardly opening slots E registering with the slots C. The bars E are then secured to the flanges B by welding or in any other suitable manner. Intermediate the upper and lower ends of the bar D are transversely extending brace bars F, these being formed in pairs of oppositely slotted members F" and F similar in construction to the bars E and flanges 13 except as hereinafter set forth. Due to the fact that the bars D are solid they can be tightly clamped at the securing points which avoids any danger of detachment or of rattling of the parts.

The construction as thus far described would not serve the purpose for the bars D are too thin to give the desired appearance of a heavy rugged construction. Such appearance is imparted to the grille by providing each of the bars D with a hollow split bead G embracing the front edge portion thereof. 'Io permit of attaching these hollow beads and for also firmly securing the same so as to avoid either accidental detachment or rattling I have devised the following construction:

The bars D have formed adjacent to the front edge portion thereof a series of struck-out lugs H and H arranged alternately on opposite sides thereof. These lugs are preferably of the shape shown in Fig. 4, having an abrupt shoulder H at the rear and a, tapering face H extending toward the front. The shoulders H are so located in relation to the front edge D of the bar that when the hollow longitudinally split beads G are engaged with this front portion and are then pressed backward the portions on opposite sides of the split will ride over the inclined face H and then snap into engagement with said shoulders H The beads have sufiicient resiliency to permit of such engagement and. after once placed will be held from disengagement. The length of the hollow bead G is somewhat greater than the space between the inner edges of the portions of the radiator shell above and below the grille opening. However, in engaging the beads with the bars D one end is first inserted through the grille opening and engaged with the bar, after which the bead can be bowed or sprung longitudinally so as to pass the opposite end into the opening as indicated in dotted lines at G, Fig. 1. This is possible by reason of a comparatively light gauge of the metal of the hollow bead and the considerable length of the same.

As has been stated, the bars D are braced intermediate their upper and lower ends by one or more transversely extending brace bars F. To prevent these bars from interfering with the engagement of the hollow beads G, each bar D is notched in its forward edge as indicated at I, Fig. 3, a suflicient depth to receive the bars F and still provide clearance for the bead G. The bars F are formed in pairs F, F which as previously described are slotted respectively from the rear edge and from the forward edge for engagement with the bars D. The member F which is slotted from the rear edge is preferably provided with a rounded flange F at its forward edge which overlaps and conceals the slot in the member F and which is so positioned as to be adjacent to the rear edge of the bead G. Thus the brace bars F will impart rigidity to the grille and will not interfere with the engagement of the beads G.

A grille constructed as described can be manufactured at low cost and is easily assembled with the radiator shell. To complete this shell and to conceal the upper and lower ends of the beads, the opening in the shell is preferably surrounded by a snap molding J which is engaged with the shell A, but this construction forms no part of the present invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with a radiator shell of flanges, secured to the inner face of the shell and extending transversely thereof and rearwardly therefrom, said flanges being provided with a series of parallel slots opening through the rear edges thereof, a series of solid comparatively thin grille bars engaging said slots, bars slotted through their forward edges to register with the slots in said flanges, said bars being arranged adjacent and secured to said flanges to lock said grille bars in position and hollow longitudinally slotted beads having a snap engagement with said bars to impart thereto the appearance of a heavier and more substantial structure.

2. In a grille, the combination with a series of parallel solid comparatively thin grille bars secured in rigid relation to each other at their upper and lower ends, of a transverse brace bar slotted through its rear edge to embrace said grille bars, the forward edges of said grille bars being notched in transverse alignment to receive the unslotted portion of said transverse bar, and a snap bead for engaging the forward edge of each of said grille bars and bridging the notches therein to lie adjacent to said transverse brace bar.

3. In a grille, a series of solid comparatively thin grille bars arranged in parallel relation and secured to each other at the upper and lower ends thereof, said bars being provided with notches in the forward edge portions thereof in transverse alignment with each other, a transversely extending brace bar slotted through its rear edge for engagement with each of said grille bars and having at its forward edge an unslotted portion for lying in said notches with its forward edge in rear of the forward edge of each of said grille bars and a hollow longitudinally slotted snap bead for engaging the forward edge of each of said grille bars, bridging the notch therein and lying adjacent to the forward edge of said brace bar.

GEORGE E. WHI'I'LOCK. 

